Archive for November, 2008

Well it’s December 1st. Am I the ONLY one who thinks that is INSANE?? Where did July go?!

Yesterday we actually got an accumulation of snow.

What I can’t believe is I have to STOP the talk about gift giving and actually get started! UGH!! This means it will be a crazy next couple of weeks.

Anyway every month on the 1st Nichole gives us a Design Team Challenge, and this month was to create a unique presentation for a gift card or cash.

I think this was a great challenge for us all because I know we have many TEENS in our family, and I’m not killing myself making them some keepsake (that they will toss) or try to figure out WHAT to buy-so I ALWAYS go the gift card route. You can’t lose 😀

I decided this challenge would help me get some holders ready in time for the holiday. Often even if I don’t MAKE a gift, and give cash or a gift card, I always like to present it in a FUN way.

Well I decided when I saw this gift card design

at Michaels, that it would inspire my design. Did I have FUN!!!!!

You can see how I used a hobby blade to make the mittens “hold” the gift card in the photo above. I stamped my mittens first, then used a coluzzle to cut a circle around them for the body Easy peasy.

I think its great to make your theme fit your gift card theme.

Here is the full view of my first of THREE gift card holders: Spender Snowman

Is he not the most adorable thing you have ever seen?!

I have to say my finished gift card holder just came out better than the vision in my head 😀

The very first thing that ever came to mind when I saw the actual size of the mitten image from the Snowfall set was to hold a gift card! It was one of those ideas that I had, but didn’t execute right away. I just jotted it down, to save for later. Well I’m happy to say that while this was different than my original vision in my head, I just LOVE it. There is a snowman on the card that sparked the idea, as did the colors in the gift card.

Now the hands and body were the easy part. I had to decide what to do for the face!

I used the top of the tree from the Merry & Bright set for my snowman nose, and a middle image of a different tree from the Merry & Bright additions set for my little hat cuff! I thought it matched the gift card perfectly! The rest of the hat was just a die cut circle from Ocean Tides cardstock. Added a pom pom to the top.

Now the scarf I used the Aqua Mist grosgrain and pulled the fiber apart, securing it in place with a brad from Making Memories. A perfect scarf don’t you think?

This lil Spender Snowman took me about a 45 minutes to make, which isn’t bad considering I had NO real idea what I was going to use for each step.

The BEST part of this entire project was when I showed my husband. He said it was his favorite thing I have ever made! ( I thought-WOW! REALLY?!!) Then he went on with a FABULOUS idea. He since since I was seeking inspiration from my gift card I should also make a Santa and a Reindeer!

What great idea. Considering he never offers creative input or shows too much excitement, I figured I better listen to show him his opinion matters (and get some of our family gift card holders done a tad bit earlier than Christmas Eve! LOL!)

NOTE: You can tell the snow started to fall as I stamped! Put me in the Christmas spirit as I FROZE my hiney off taking photos in our yard outside my stamp room. I crawled out the window-in my slippers-no jacket-to get these photos! OYE! What we do for our hobby eh?

Next up: Santa Sends Some $

Now aside from the mittens (like above) the rest is just cardstock and creativity!

I used Pure Poppy cardstock , and stamped his mittens in black and white ink.

For the belt buckle that was an OLD punch I had from EK Success and never used-till now! LOL! His beard is done in white-using a scallop circle nestability, and his face was a large oval, punched from blush cardstock, with the addition of googly eyes, and pink cheeks!!

Ribbon makes his hat cuff here, and another pom pom.

Then I debated-a mouth or no mouth?

So I slapped one on, and didn’t like it :C

I didn’t have the right size circle for his mouth and I wanted him to be happy. At the end of the day I ripped this mouth off! LOL! Oh well. What is your opinion? Mouth on or off? I guess writing this it is kind cute…….HMM.

Now he only took me a bit over 20 minutes.

Now last but not least: Buck-a-roo

By now its FREEZING and DARK! Sorry this photo is awful :C

BUT…………Isn’t he cute?!

I created him using Kraft cardstock then sponged the edges. For the stamping- his mittens were done with Pure Poppy and Dark Chocolate ink. I made him also hold a snowball.

Want to know what made his antler’s? It was the OPEN line image of the tree trunk from Father Knows Best, stamped in black, on dark chocolate cardstock, then cut out!

His ears are colored Bridal Confetti flowers 😀

His Rudolph nose was originally the layered circle stamp-also from Father Knows Best, and covered with a large Bling (colored with a sharpie marker), but you can still see some of the circle outline, which is what I hoped for. More googly eyes to complete the face 😀

His scarf is a polka dot Ocean Tides ribbon, secured with a button that I embellished with some dotted cardstock.

The Buck-a-r00 took about a 1/2 hour since I wasn’t sure HOW to make him look just like a reindeer.

Now here we have a photo of the gift card trio-with the inspiration gift card!

By now I am a icicle! LOL! Covered in falling snow.

I hope you like my version of some cute little gift card holders, all created from the inspiration of the mittens! These didn’t take that long to make, and considering I have done the design part, to re-create them and whip up several, wouldn’t be as long! LOL!

I really don’t care how long they took, as I truly had fun with the challenge, and the extra push of inspiration that my husband set before me 😀 Thanks honey! Im just so happy with these.

Now for MORE inspiring ideas for Cash and Carry be sure to check out the design teams members!

So many of you out there in cyber world TRULY touch my heart, and my life. The kindness of stamper’s is amazing. Here is another little story I thought I’d share……….

A few weeks ago I had some intermittent contact with one of my blog readers Sarah N. I had helped her out with some stuff in the best way I could, and after some chatter, she mentioned to me that she was compelled a few weeks before to buy some purple yarn. So not her color she mentioned. Anyway, she went on to say that she thinks she was drawn to it, for the scarf she made, to send to me! How sweet is that?!

I hope she will like this. I love my K & Co Christmas print slab, as it has inspired many recent creations. I used my creative memories wavy cutter for some 3D snow hills. Some Stampendous pink glitter, and silver snowflake table confetti from Target!

I was just over the moon with her lovely gesture (Now I have MANY thank you’s to write, so many on the list. I get caught up on really making each one special that they all end up so late! This one was just perfect for the gift I received-the scarf is gorgeous!!!!!!!!) so I made her this card as a thank you! I should have made it purple! DUH! Oh well.

I tied a pretty ribbon around her neck-(love the little hearts on it) as a thank you for the scarf. Just an added touch. I think she is SO cute.

SO this will go postal this week I believe. I also hope to get our holiday cards OUT the door!!

So a huge thank you to Sarah 😀

So that’s it for me. I have SO many other samples to share, but will wait till later in the week. Monday’s are INSANE for me.

I’m excited to share a new kind of imagery with you today! Take a look, maybe give it a try and see what you think!

See this cute little girl…………….OOPS! Look what she has done!

This is First Haircut

Looking at this image I felt she would make the perfect Im Sorry card 😀 So thats what I did.

She looks just like a cupie doll, maybe a Campbell’s soup kid-only not so pudgy, or an adorable vintage postcard. I love her to pieces. This line totally brought out my other shabby/vintage side (OK as shabby as I get) of me.

So my dear cyber friend Holly (she made me this frame) has a UBER talented daughter Chesney. You may have known some of Chesney’s work from My Favorite Things. She is the illustrator for the BC Dzyns line. When I saw some of Chesney’s drawings (made into cards on Holly’s blog) I told Kimabout them. Soon after, with collaboration from Kim’s daughter Brianna, that line was born. Pretty cool stuff. Little did I know that Chesney could draw some of the CUTEST images-I had never seen until recent.

Squigglefly is offering digital downloads of all kinds of images that people can print and use like stamps. They will come flipped right and left and come in two pre-set sizes for convenience, but can be re-sized for personal preference.

This is the card in its entirety

So I printed her onto my vintage cream cardstock, and die cut with the Labels set.

I then took my gold marker, and ran it along the embossed edge of the die cut for that VINTAGE, antiqued look.

I had to add a velvet flower in chocolate by May Arts. I also added a vintage button I got from my stash for more “vintage” stuff.

The stamp along the side I believe is Hero Arts-my dear friend Paulette bought that for me some time ago and I felt it went with the vintage, almost faux stitched looking element to the card. I just added some color to my leaves and petals.

I stamped the I’m so sorry sentiment from Stampin Up, and die cut it with a Spellbinder’s tag. I also drew my line and pierced it around the tag for a faux sewn look.

Pretty cool huh?

I think for me the coolest part came when I did get to make that same image SMALLER to suit a card I wanted to make

Here is a close up of the SAME image, only smaller

Now, looking back I WISH I paid attention to the sizes I made it as to help you-sorry! You can figure out what they will look like before you print my hitting PRINT PREVIEW.

On that image I used a ruler and the wide end of a copic marker, and “drew” my wall paper. I then lightly traced with a ruler and a black marker-faintly to make it like the drawing and not over power it.

To me this was like when times are tough you make everything OK. I was thinking what a perfect image-First Haircut-locks on the floor-this is bad! LOL! But YOU make it all ok.

See the difference in size from the first to second card? These are BOTH A2 size cards, and the bottom image is significantly smaller. It reminds me if Elzybells. The UK has the larger images (which I ADORE) and the US sells select smaller images. Sometimes you wish a particular image was either bigger or smaller. Sort of the best of both worlds as far as sizes go.

I used my Scor-Pal to make some scored lines at the bottom, and added a scallop border (using Martha Stewart punch) and a vintage cream underlay for a fun feminine touch. I then used some Bazzill flower tied in the center with ribbon.

THINK-Mrs. Fields Raspberry Chocolate Stix-Think super simple, inexpensive, yet a CUTE way to give a small gift of cheer to a neighbor or from “Our home to yours” kind of gift.

Here is yet another view-from the roof top of my house box

I had WAY too much fun using the little house image from C.C. Designs upcoming release called Sugarplums Winter Scenery-this set goes for Sale on December 1st. Release party HERE at 9pm (on the 1st) EST.

I decided to measure the house (about 2 inches) and I scored every 2 inches, adding a 1/2 inch to the end for my tab to adhere the panels together. In other words my paper was 8 1/2 across. I then scored up 2 inches from the bottom. I then left a empty block-stamped my house (right on the bottom score line), left a empty block, and stamped my house.

I then colored my 2 houses, and sponged my “sky”. I did go to the bottom of the box to make it look like snow on the ground. Stamped some light snowflakes, and added glitter and a white gel pun for now SNOW .

I used my paper cutter to cut an even line (end of roof tops to end of other roof tops) Then trimmed out my roof/details.

Before putting it together I added a punched border from Martha Stewart to add to the design.

I then put my house box together! I added my little snowman as a 3D element, and added that glittery snow from Michaels. Glitter for the snowy icicles 😀 I love this little box.

Then I just put my Raspberry Mrs. Fields Chocolate Stix in a baggie-stamped a tag and tie it closed.

Thats it. This took MAYBE 15 minutes to make (due to the coloring) I think if I made more it would go much quicker.

Well thank you for reading!!

Have a super night.

Tomorrow I have a sample for a new kind of company for you to check out- Till then!

UGH! Im FINALLY sitting down here, about noon on Saturday. We lost our Internet/email since early Friday morning. That mean I had no connection to the outside world, OR the ability to post on my blog or notify the people I work for that I had no Internet. You don’t realize how cut off from the WORLD you feel when your Internet goes down. Im so disgusted with Verizon-let me tell you! LOL!

I had so many great things planned and now no time for it GRRR!!!

OK thanks for letting me spew all the negativity out. Feels good to get over it. I have to say I really don’t do well under a lot of pressure. I don’t procrastinate, and when things are beyond my control, and puts me behind its a killer

Lots to share today!!! Some I just HAVE to put off till tomorrow because my kids are pulling at my legs to get the Christmas tree put up! We usually do it the day after Thanksgiving ( yeah I know it seems early but my kids LOVE to maximize the holiday feeling and I don’t blame them), but I haven’t felt too great, so we waited until today.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I hope you did too! Thank you to those who sent emails and kind words for the holiday! You all made my day. I didn’t go shopping on black Friday-which is INSANE! I always go, but there wasn’t anything overly appealing so we skipped it.

I want to share our holiday family photo with you. This is all of us on Thanksgiving and will get sent with our family Christmas cards

So let us be one of the first to say-From my family to yours-Happy Holidays! We truly wish you all a upcoming year of the love of family & friends, health, happiness and dreams fulfilled!

I feel like I can finally post my Christmasy stuff without guitl now! Once Thanksgiving hits, its all good! LOL! I am also feeling the overwhelming need to get my holiday everything DONE!

See there is Daisy! So many ask about her. She is doing great. I haven’t posted photos since she hasn’t been too naughty these days! LOL!

As you can see Noah is HUGE!! Is is now 50 inches tall and only just turned 6 (Alexa is a mere 46 inches and is 9. She won’t get to be much over 5’2 I think). They say he will be looking me in the eye by 12. (I’m 5 “11) And YES Noah was difficult getting to smile saying he doesn’t like getting his picture taken, and we are all taking TOO long. In this photo he looks so old and like “Hey! How you doin?” LOL! Very funny.

Amber-she had a cute smile for every photo. She loves the camera. I wish she didn’t hang her down but at least she co-operated.

I wish you could have full view of the girls outfits-they are really cute, and they match! I love that. But taking the photo outside of our home this was the best way to get a photo.

Getting Alexa to look at the camera is like asking someone to donate a kidney without anesthesia! You should have seen her school photos! YIKES! LOL! Some of the faces this girl can make are pretty funny!!

As for Jay & I- we basically wrangled Daisy the entire time. A photo the kids look great, Daisy decided to ear my earring, that kind of fun family stuff. Or she’d chew on her pay, of my fingers. So NOT regretting going to a photo place to get a picture. To have to PAY for the pain of a family photo-no thanks! I’ll wait till January after the holiday.

Anyway-out of over 50 photos this one was the best of the bunch with the majority of us all looking at the camera. With 3 kids and a dog, its near impossible to not have one of us looks REALLY funky! LOL!

Just thought I’d share that with you all.

Anyway this post will be JAM packed as I need to play “catch up” on sneak peek samples for C.C. Designs newest release which is available December 1st.

Check the BLOG for more design team samples, daily, and your chance to WIN a free set 😀

OK OK now before I get into the NEW stuff let me share a Saturday Sketch

There is no time limit, or restrictions- just have fun with it, when you can.

Use Keyword mytimess13-

I want to thank Dawn as she helps me tweak my sketches when I can’t get something to work right. She is seriously awesome for always figuring out what I can’t!! Dawn you are just the best! THANK YOU!!!

Now here is my sample:

So Stinkin Sweet

Is this lil skunk not adorable? I had to use her.

I had some black & white paper from Imaginisce, and I used my copic’s to color it in to match my colors! Cute huh? I have done that before but wanted to point it out in case ya’ll were wondering where I got that paper! LOL! I used PTI white, Lemon Tart, and Ripe Avocado for my solid cardstock.

This was made using a set that released last month by Jen Ofiana called Forest Friends. I really fell in love with the skunk image. I also have a few other cards using this set to share but have others that NEED to be posted, so will wait-again.

Now on my sketch there is a flower cluster-that is meant to be any sort of swirl of image in the corner. Use your imagination!!

This is what I did-more piercing and flowers! I LOVE my Onare piercing template, and use it endlessly!!

Now onto more piercing and another peek I was suppose to share yesterday, but had no Internet!!

Snowman Friends-OK I have to say my layout is LAME, but I wasn’t feeling good. I do LOVE the hanging mittens in the corner though! ( I also have a 3D items to share but it deserves its own post I think)

This uses a new set called Winter Bear-to be released December 1st. I LOVE it! The snowmen particularly adorable, as is the bear. I fell in LOVE with the mittens too.

I did the piercing and free handed a heart to match that of the sweaters and mittens. I think its cute. You can’t see the shimmer on the snow, but its nice in real life-PROMISE!

I chose to get inspired from a Slab of Christmas themed paper by one of my FAVE paper co. K & Co. Isn’t it yummy??? Its like Berry Sorbet, and poppy! Just love it. I also decided to try the faux texture technique that Debbie did using Copic’s on her blog. She is the best! You have to try it-so fun. I need practice but Im OK with that. More excuses to color 😀

Some close up details-

The hanging mittens, the snowman to the left is totally cut out, and the head of the one of the right is cut out and popped up. I also see I went a little too happy with my singlo white gel pen 😀 Oh well.

I just has fun with it.

So that has to be it for today-I am so behind and lots to do.

Thanks for reading my blabbering. I hope you all get to try out the sketch, and something here imspires you to get inking!

Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive

an expression of gratitude; a short prayer said at meals; grace, a benediction

Thanksgiving to me-

T-is for TODAY! I am so thankful for today. I feel that way everyday. To be able to wake up and live another day. I try to take a moment and find something to be thankful for everyday. T is also for time. I am thankful for the time I have with my family, and loved ones. The time I have whenever I get to do what I love. Time is precious, and passes quickly. Hang on to every second you have.

H-is for Health. Having gone through Cancer with Alexa, makes me SO eternally grateful for every day that each one of us awakens, and we have a healthy day! Each day is truly a gift, and your health is one of the best things to be blessed with. I am thankful that God has healed Alexa, and carried us through a difficult time, to all be here, so thankful, not just today, but everyday. I am also thankful that I have a healthier lifestyle, and have met some major goals for myself 😀 I feel AMAZING!

A- is for appreciation. Appreciation for my family who means the world to me. I could do a entire post on JUST that. In fact Im sure I have! LOL! A is also for- a higher power. I am thankful to God for everything he has blessed my life with.

N- is for Never Knew/met. You may wonder what this means, but to me its being thankful for all of you whom I never met or would have never known if it weren’t for this CRAZY world of stamping. I have developed so many relationships and friendships I never thought possible in a cyber world. TRULY AMAZING. I am so thankful for all of you who visit me here, who have shared and I have become friends with. You are all like an extended family if friends that keep me going everyday.THANK YOU!!!

K -is for kids! You know I had to use this letter for my kids! I can’t imagine my life without them. As insane as they make me most days they are my heart and soul. My reason for breathing and living. The love I have for them is indescribable-although I am certain you know what I mean. I also have to add Jay in there! I know its not a K word but he is my best friend! My rock. My soul mate. I strive to be as good of a person as he is. He is the most amazing person I ever met. Oh and Daisy our dog. She is the best little furball a family could ever has asked for. For someone who never wanted a dog, she is my little sidekick. I love her to pieces. K is also for kindness-I have been blessed by a world of kind people, so thank you to all of you!

S- is for Stamping (of course)! I am so grateful that I have been able to find a creative outlet that not only helps me de-stress and get some “my time” but has connected me to so many people that I never would have come in contact with had it not been for this insane hobby! Stamping saved me during some difficult times.

G is for giving back. I think it is important that everyone finds some way to give back to others. No matter how big or small. Every small gesture makes a difference. I have some goals for myself and family to do our best to give back! Be it sending boxes of cards to places that need it, to raising awareness for causes I believe in, to donating clothing, volunteering, so pitching in to help a friend during a difficult time. Sometimes its a RAK, or lending an ear. Ask yourself for ways that YOU can giveback with the coming New Year! Not only will it help someone else, but you will feel AMAZING!

I -is for inspiration. I am thankful that I can get inspired everyday from something. Be it one of you, my children or my surrounding. I am also thankful for the oppourtunities I have been given to work with/for some amazing people in the stamping world

V- is for valuable. Value has different meaning to everyone. I think finding value in yourself is so important to your own outlook on life, and feeling of selfworth. When you feel you have value you exude confidence. Also make sure you make the people in your life feel valuable to you is so important. Acknowledging the little things that shows you listen and care makes someone feel very valued by you 😀

I- is for I can do it! I truly believe we can do anything we set our minds to. Often that is our only limitation. If you are positive in yourself you really can do anything you set your mind to! I don’t just sit here and say this stuff, I not only believe it but I live it.

N is for NOW! I hate the whole “tomorrow” attitude. I think it has to do with my dad. He ALWAYS said “tomorrow” and promised big things for “tomorrow”, and you know what tomorrow turned into? Not TODAY, tomorrow-again! It would never happen. It made me so upset. I try to never put off for tomorrow what I can do today. I am NOT a procrastinator, and I think its because of that. Also we need to really treasure what TODAY has to offer. Make the most of it. Having a sick child taught me that NO ONE is ever promised tomorrow. Make today, your tomorrow.

G- is for GO FOR IT! See above “N”.This has always been my attitude. If you want something you have to go after it! Its not going to just fall in your lap. Whatever it may be, believe you can achieve or obtain it, and nothing is impossible.

Well thank you for stopping by here today. I have so much more to say (don’t I always) but the family is calling 😀

I hope that whatever your today brings, you find something to be thankful for.

religion: a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny;

complete confidence in a person or plan etc;

religion: an institution to express belief in a divine power;

loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person;

Faith-its a simple word, but a difficult thing to have when you are going through a trial in your life. I know first hand how hard having Faith can sometimes be. Often it is all we can hold on to when times are tough, and we are at out lowest point. It often seems when one big thing goes wrong the rest of our world falls apart with it. The bottom of our bucket just falls out, and there is nothing to hold everything we need to fill it with. But with Faith we keep it all together.

That all being said I made this card for a friend. I haven’t had as much contact with her as I would like, but I when I heard her mother passed away last week I KNEW I had to get a card made and out the door, so she knew, despite my lack of interaction, that I was thinking and praying for her through this difficult time. I cannot imagine the grief of losing a mother.

The sentiment is from Everyday Blessings. I inked just the scripture for the front, and stamped the sentiment inside.

Another view

I LOVED this image from Stampavie . This one is Lily-the Magic Fairy . I just bought several from ATS-HERE! OMG! I think I’m addicted, these images are just TOO cute. I wish I bought more! LOL! Seriously adorable.

Anyway, this image in particular struck me for this card-to me, she looks like a sad little angel, looking at her ladybug friend for comfort. I used blue for the solemness of the card. I wanted to keep it very soft. I LOVE the labels 1 nestability . I used the inner rim to trace my blue lines, and pierced holes for the “sewing” effect. Looks pretty good I think! LOL!

I colored her with my Copic markers, and added some white dots to her dress. I had so much fun coloring her. I LOVE her glittered wings.

I stamped the bkgd using the old Damask bkgd from Stamping up, on glossy white paper. I felt the bkgd pattern was a mimic to the shape of her wings.

The satin ribbon was a perfect feminine touch, which a stuck a pin in that holds my sentiment.

I hope this brings her some comfort knowing so many of her friends love her, and are wrapping her up in their prayers, and I hope she keeps the faith as she travels the difficult road of grief from the loss of her mom.

Well I hope you all hold tight to your families tomorrow, enjoy this time together, and you acknowledge all you have in life to be thankful for.

More so I hope you don’t wait for a holiday to make those who are important to you know just how much they mean to you. We are never promised tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving (in case I don’t get to post tomorrow!)

Lauren

PS I do plan on having a thankfulness post, but need to make sure the things I need to do for the people I AM thankful for, actually get done first! LOL!

Sunday Amber had a birthday party to go to. I always have to add SOMETHING handmade when my kids go to a party it. Usually its a card, but my kids are now taking that part amongst themselves, and Amber insisted she only send along her hand drawn picture she drew of the 2 of them playing Princess.

So I decided to include with her WebKinz gift a personalized Purse-onality Clutch gift set that I made just for her.

PS- many of you emailed to ask what patterned paper I used yesterday-HERE you go!

I used my flower border from the Curlz Deluxe Kit, and assembled Cassie’s name in the bottom of my circle block using the small letters set. I inked it in berry sorbet ink, then dotted my flower centers with an olive marker. Personalization complete 😀 Easy peasy. I like that there is NO hunting in a store for something with Cassie or any other name on it anymore, and being LIMITED to whatever random personalized gift I do find. I just make my own.

PS JustRite Stampers is have a HUGE SALE! Now is the time 😀 Buy one get one FREE 😀

Now for the matching flowers, I used my shimmery bridal confetti flower in green for the “leaves” (found in Michaels Stores in the bridal section-paintcan FULL for $4) a 2 flower punches from Punch Bunch. With a little bling in the center.

Yes! You read it right. Target had these LARGE boxes of Crayons for $1. I bought 2 boxes and went to work! Yes I said I bought 2. I know they are repeat colors, but you know kids break their crayons all the time. Plus I wanted to fill the clutch.

So when I say went to work you may be thinking “Work? Work on what?”

Wrapping up my crayons!

I stamped my limitless labels image onto my white mailing label sheets (32 crayons per box). Then covered each crayon! They wrap PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!!! I was over the moon, that what was in my head, was able to get done in the real world!

One box done in the floral pattern label Berry Sorbet, and the other box done in the leaf pattern in Ripe Avocado.

Now even if they don’t have the “style” you want you can still use them for anyone! These would have been fine as they are Disney Princess Crayons, but I wanted to over them all the same.

Here is the set at another angle

Now if you are wondering what is the gift on the right……………that is just a covered white notepad for her to be able to draw on. The top flap slides into that belly band to keep it closed. Quick, cute and simple. The clutch was a HUGE hit with all the girls! I got the notebook at Staples. I believe there were 6 in a pack for only $2. Now if you have a girly party this would be pretty inexpensive to make for favors, and you daughter could help! Amber’s class is ALMOST all girls, only 1 boy so I may make these for little Christmas Gifts! Not sure yet. Im sure I can BOY up a clutch for the occasion!

Stay tuned for that 😀

On another note: many of you emailed asking about my Kettlebell-

Wow! Am I ever sore. I did my first workout with the Kettlebell yesterday and all I can say is OUCH! A good ouch though. There is nothing like the muscle soreness from a hard workout. Makes you feel like you accomplished something.

I wasn’t sure I would like the workout. It honestly didn’t feel like a ton of work. I mean Im use to practically feeling like I am going to throw up after the Biggest Loser workout and Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred program! LOL!

I broke a sweat but thought that was it. Well today I felt exactly where it worked! My abs, calves, thighs, butt and yes my arms. Who’d of thought. The one thing I didn’t like was the DVD was INSTRUCTIONAL only. You can go online and ORDER more workouts-GRR!!! My Kettlebell was On Sale at Target for $25-I think it was usually $33 (I got the 7lb one) and I feel for that price I should get a Workout dvd WITH IT! So I basically use the menu guide and go through each workout, doing my own reps with my MP3 player on. The good thing is I am getting more use from my MP3! LOL!

I’ll keep you posted.

Another meal I thought I’d include for you are the Panini’s from Lean Cuisine! OH YUM!! You wouldn’t think a microwaved sandwich would taste very good, but WOW! They are FILLING, and great for people on the go, who work at an office (just take for your lunch) and people like me-busy moms. Just pop it in the microwave while you fix the kids their lunch, and you are GOLDEN! Really loving those this week!!

I also like Soy Joy bars. Now Im not a “soy” person but these are pretty good, give you engery and are filling. Amber LOVES them. The other kids don’t. Jason thinks they are BOGUS, so I think its a personal choice.

When I want chocolate I got to my SlimFast snack bars! Perfect little dose without so much guilt. I like the chocolate peanut butter ones. I also LOVE Special K (store brand is what I really buy) strawberry granola bars too. Only 90 cal!!!!!!!!!!

OK that enough of the “talk”.

Hope you like todays post, and have a great week. Upon the advice of EVERYONE I am off to buy those shes today. I have determined that me NOT being a shoe person, and wanting them so badly, that YES! I do deserve them, and yes I will take photos for those who want to see what got me in a frenzy. They really aren’t a big deal, but I will share.

I have a little goody to share to help warm up those COLD days. A GREAT gift for the mailman this time of year.

I have been out and about, running around like a mad woman. They say that due to the “recession” many people won’t even be shopping this season. Well, I don’t know if they have been to Target lately but I don’t see an empty parking lot, that is for sure.

I am uncertain if I will even brave the Black Friday shopping venture I usually go on this year. Seems so busy all ready. I found a cute pair of brown shoes at Target that I DIDN’T buy because I was exercising RESTRAINT.Now they are ALL I keep thinking about! I’m not a “shoe” person but every girl need a pair of black & brown dressy shoes to wear with jeans.

I didn’t want to spend $32 on them :C I have HAD to buy new clothes 😀 Not a complaint, its a great thing, but shoes didn’t seem to be a necessity. As it was I needed more make-up. Something I use daily but HATE buying. I may go back today. Yes, I think I deserve them 😀 I have been working really hard, and they will really complete my outfits. OK I know you don’t care about my shoe issue. Just had to share my indecisiveness. I am after all a SAHM so my “shoe wearing” excursions are only to the kids school, school meetings, and food shopping! LOL! Nothing fancy or exciting. At home I am barefoot-always. I think I need a new winter coat too. Oh boy. This could get ugly! LOL!

Anyway…………….speaking of Target I have my cute cocoa cup project to share today! It is a covered Archer Farms disposable coffee cup 😀 You get like 12 for $3. Im sure you can get a better deal elsewhere.

Inside are 2 different flavored cocoas (my MIL gave them to me and they were perfect for the post today)

I just made a template, and cut a cover from my pink cardstock. I then took some super cool adhesive paper from Scor-Pal (not posted yet??) and punches various snowflakes. Put the punched stickers on my cup, and covered in glitter!

I used my sweet little Santa from Rockin Holiday, as my main focus. He is just SO flippin cute! SO! I used some icicle stickles for his hat and jacket trim.

The sentiment reads: Holiday memories warm even the coldest of days

Perfection!

I LOVE using shades of pink & red for holiday stuff.

I love the little ric rac ribbon along the bottom. SO cute.

Now once I got going on this I thought “Oh! Wouldn’t a gift card holder to a coffee shop be so perfect for this?” Why, yes! Yes, it would! LOL!

Now I didn’t have a gift card to a coffee shop handy when I created this, but in hindsight, I would have. So just use your imagination, and make the colors the same as your giftcard! LOL!

Here is the card holder portion, slide out

So, for ANOTHER idea, instead of putting Cocoa in the cup, a great way to present a gift card holder would be to make a gift card holder and put in your cocoa cup instead!!

But for now-here are both together.

I love that is is all matchy matchy. You can also include both like you see here. Its up to you.

SO that is it for today. This week I am hard at work making items for deadlines. I want to finish early so I can just enjoy family time.

I hope the many of you who have emailed me or replied about my weight-loss post have been diligent, and followed through with starting to work out. One benefit to having my brother love with me is I feel like I have a personal trainer at my house! LOL! Upon his wisdom he advised I make a specific purchase, so I did. I just bought a Kettlebell (comes with a DVD) to HOPEFULLY help me kick off the last 10-15lbs I WANT to lose. I have lost 4 more lbs! YEAH!! I am NOW down about 40lbs, 4 pant sizes, and 2 shirt sizes! (shirts run differently) All without stepping a SINGLE foot in a gym or on a membership! That means more $$ for clothes 😀

I have some “problem” areas and my brother is the perfect person to help me target them. You can see why I say that HERE . So Ill keep you posted on the Kettlebell workout once I give it a try.

I have THROWN OUT (aka donated) every single item that is too big for me! I am leaving myself NO ROOM to grow out of my current size! Only going DOWN from here! If it gets snug, then my hiney better kick it up a notch. I refuse to go slowly work my way out of my jeans. NOT going to happen. I am also changing out my workouts to keep it fun and interesting. I will say HAVING to buy smaller clothes is the BEST part of it all.

I’m NOT letting Thanksgiving KILL my hard work. I am making a low fat dessert for the family. Not sure WHAT yet. AND I already have a entire “plan” for what I am going to put onto my plate. Yes, I am having dessert 😀 A SLIVER of pumpkin pie (my MIL makes a KILLER one that I have been craving for 2 months now!), and a SLIVER of something else. Not sure what it will be yet, but whatever the “regular” portion size, Im going with HALF that. I think if you go in knowing what you are going to eat you won’t over do it. We also always go for a brisk walk after. Better bring my sneakers.

Many of you asked me so many questions, one being WHAT I cook for dinner! LOL! Well I LOVE this site—-HERE. EVERY single recipe I have tried has been AMAZING! Check it out.

OK I think I have gone on and on enough today.

Have a great start to the week. I have so much to share so I hope you check back in again 😀

PLEASE feel free to post things that YOU are doing to stay healthy, any progress you made, sites you like, exercises to try, recipe’s for low fat desserts (PLEASE!!) or other great recipe’s you want to share!

Ok thanks again for letting me gush. OK you didn’t LET me, but if you read it all, thanks! LOL! Not sure I would have.